Bridge Ward without. St. Mary Overy. 8

Bridge Ward without. St. Mary Overy.

"they be true. There is more open Whordeom, more Stued Whoredom than ever was before. For God's sake let it be lookt upon. It is your Office to see unto it.]"

Then next is the Clinke, a Goal or Prison for the Trespassers in those Parts, namely, in old time for such as should Brabble, Fray, or break the Peace on the said Bank, or in the Brothel Houses, they were by the Inhabitants thereabout apprehended and committed to this Goal, where they were straitly Imprisoned.

The Clinke.

Next is the Bishop of Winchester's House, or Lodging, when he cometh to this City. Which House was first builded by William Gifford, Bishop of Winchester, about the Year One thousand one hundred and seven, the seventh of Henry the First, upon a Plot of Ground pertaining to the Prior of Bermondsey, as appeareth by a Writ directed unto the Barons of the Exchequer, in the Year 1366. the one and fortieth of Edward the Third (the Bishop's See being void) for eight Pounds due to the Monks of Bermondsey, for the Bishop of Winchester's Lodging in Southwark. This is a very fair House well repaired, and hath a large Wharf and a Landing Place, called the Bishop of Winchester's Stairs.

Winchester House.

This Bishop also had the Lordship and Manour of Southwark; which came to King Edward VI. upon Bishop Gardiner's Deprivation. And Anno 1552, there was an Exchange made between the Lord Marquis of Northampton and the King, whereby that Lord had the Lordship and Manour of Southwark, and the King had the Chief or Capital Mese of Lambeth, sometime belonging to the Duke of Norfolk, attainted of Treason. The said Marquis builded the Gallery at Winchester House. In Queen Mary's Time it was restored to the See, and so it continueth.]

Lordship of Southwark belonged to the Bishops of Winton.

J. S.

Adjoining to this, on the South side thereof, is the Bishop of Rochester's Inn, or Lodging. By whom first erected I do not now remember me to have read, but well I wot, the same of long time hath not been frequented by any Bishop, and lieth ruinous for lack of Reparations.

Rochester-House.

This Place of the Bishop of Rochester's were certain Houses near by Winchester Place, that had been given him for a Palace: And sometimes (as it is reported) Parcel of the Possessions of the Priory of St. Swithins in Winchester. This Place became divided afterward into several little Dwellings.]

Reliq. Spelm.

J. S.

The Abbot of Naverly had a House there.


The Priory Church of St. MARY OVERIE,

 

East from the Bishop of Winchester's House, directly over against it, standeth a fair Church called St. Mary over the Rie, or Overy, that is, Over the Water. This Church, or some other in place thereof, was (of old time long before the Conquest) an House of Sisters, founded by a Maiden, named Mary. Unto the which House and Sisters she left (as was left to her by her Parents) the Oversights and Profits of a Cross Ferry, or Traverse Ferry over the Thames: there kept, before that any Bridge was builded. This House of Sisters was after by Swithen, a Noble Lady, converted unto a College of Priests, who in place of the Ferry, builded a Bridge of Timber, and from time to time kept the same in good Reparations. But, lastly, the same Bridge was builded of Stone, and then, in the Year 1106. was this Church again founded for Canons Regular, by William Pont de le Arche, and William Dauncy, Kts. Normans.

St. Mary Overies a Priory.

To this Monastery, among other its Revenues, belonged the Rectory and Church of Banstead, and the Manours of North Todworth and South Merfield, with the Appendances in the County of Surrey.]

J. S.

William Gifford, Bishop of Winchester, was a good Benefactor also, for he (as some have noted) builded the Body of that Church, in the Year 1106, the seventh of Henry the First.

Lib. Rufen.

Liber Bermondsey.

The Canons first entred the said Church then. Algodus was the first Prior.

King Henry the First, by his Charter, gave them the Church of St. Margaret in Southwark.

King Stephen confirmed the Gift of King Henry, and also gave the Stone House, which was William de Ponte le Arche, by Downgate.

This Priory was burned about the Year 1207. Wherefore the Canons did found an Hospital near unto their Priory; where they celebrated until the Priory was repaired. Which Hospital was after (by consent of Peter de la Roche, Bishop of Winchester) removed into the Land of Anicius, Archdeacon of Surrey, in the Year 1228. a Place where the Water was more plentiful, and the Aire more wholsome, and was dedicated to St. Thomas.

St. Thomas's Hospital.


The Parish of St. MARY Magdalene.

 

This Peter de Rupibus, or de la Roch, founded a large Chappel of St. Mary Magdalene, in the said Church of St. Mary Overy. Which Chappel was afterward appointed to be the Parish Church for the Inhabitants near adjoining.

St. Mary Magdalene.

This Church was again newly builded in the Reign of Richard the Second and King Henry the Fourth.

John Gower, a Learned Gentleman and a famous Poet, (but no Knight, as some have mistaken it) was then an especial Benefactor to that Work, and was there buried on the North side of the said Church, in the Chappel of St. John, where he founded a Chantry. He lieth under a Tomb of Stone, with his Image also of Stone being over him. The Hair of his Head aburne, long to his Shoulders, but curling up, and a small forked Beard; and on his Head a Chaplet, like a Coronet of four Roses, an Habit of Purple, damasked, down to his Feet, a Collar of Esses of Gold about his Neck, Under his Head the likeness of three Books, which he compiled. The first, named Speculum Meditantis, written in French; the second, Vox Clamantis, penned in Latin; the third Confessio Amantis, set forth in English; and this last is printed: Vox Clamantis, with his Chronica Tripartita, and others both in Latin and French, never printed, I have and do possess; but Speculum Meditantis, I never saw, tho' heard thereof to be in Kent: Beside, on the Wall where he lieth, there was painted three Virgins crowned, one of the which was named Charity, holding this Device:

John Gower.

No Knight, neither had he any Garland of Ivy and Roses, but a Chaplet of four Roses only.


En toy qui es Fitz de Dieu le Pere,
Savue soit, qui gist sour cest Pierre. i.e.

In thee, who art the Son of God the Father,
Be he saved that lies under this Stone.

The second writing, Mercy, with this Device:


O bone Iesu fait ta mercy,
Al' alme, dont le corps gist icy. i.e.

O good Jesu, shew thy Mercy
To the Soul whose Body lies here.

The third writing, Pity, with this Device:


Pour ta Pite Iesu regarde,
Et met cest alme en savue garde. i.e.

For thy Pity, Jesu, have regard,
And put this Soul in safeguard.

His